Screen tensioning device



y 8, 1954 D. J. RUST ET AL 2,678,691

SCREEN TENSIONING DEVICE Filed July 5, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l awe/Mom David J." Bus? Jae]: J.Jensen n MM.

ATTO R N EYS y 8, 1954 0. J. RUST ET AL SCREEN TENSIONING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 3, 1950 David J1 Rust Jack JLJensqn ATTORNEYS Patented May 18,1954

2,678,691 arier FIE DEV CE.-

David Jordan Rust and Jack H. Jensen, San-- Leandro, Califl, assignors to Ry-Lock company;

Ltd; San. Leandro, Galifl, a. corporationhot Galifomia Application July 3, 1950, Serial No. 171,952 2 Claims. (01. 160-328) The present invention relates in general-to frameless window screens oftension type; i. e-. maintained under tension by tensioning devices connected between the window frame and a bottom cross bar on the screen;

The present invention provides, as a major object, a screen tensioning device of improved design; the device being easy to install, convenient and quick-actingto manually tension or release the screen, and when in engaged position effectively holding the 'screen' Ii-nder tension and locked against opening from the outside.

The invention. alsocontemplates the provision as an important'object, of a 'frameless window screen tensioning device which-requires no attachmeht to-the window sil-l o f any working part; the window frame mounted parts/being affixed solely to the jambs or blind stops of said frame in readily accessible but relatively ou-t-of-the-way positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a frameless window screen tensioning device which can be easily adjustedwhereby toinitially provide propertension, or to subsequently increase the tension ashecessaryQ.

A further object, oftheinventionis to provide a. frameless, window screen tensioning device which includes, in novel, combination, a, window frame mounted camlever working laterally from the jamb, and a cam engaging unitw fixed on the adjacent portion of the bottom crossbar of the screen; said unit beingforcefully depressed by the cam lever, to tension the screen, when the lever is in a predetermined beyondQdead-center position, and the unit then looking withthe cam of said lever to. prevent outward displacement of the bottom cross bar and s'creenr An additional object of the invention is to provide. the device with a locator whereby to properly positionthe bottom cross barfbef-ore application of the screen tensioning force thereon, and. to prevent any lateral; displacement of said bar which mightotherwise occur under the influ n of the cam action.

It is also an object of the invention. to provide a screen tensioning device which is designed for ease and economy of manufacture.

A still further object of the'invention is to provide a practical and reliable frameless window screen tensioning device, and yet one which will be exceedingly efiective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of 2:: such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear'by a perusal of the following specification andclaims.

In the drawings-z Fig. 1 is a fragmentary inside elevation of a frameless window screen-andwindowframe, with a pair of tensioning devices asinclosed or engaged position ofnsefbetweensai'd screen and frame.

Fig. 2-is a similar-view, but solely of-one device, with the latter in open or'released position.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross section om-line 4 -h of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation jof one ofthe devices in initial position oi installation; the screen being omitted.

Referring now more particularly to thecharacters of reference on the drawingsythe --frameless window screen .is indicated generally at l, and includes asection or screen of wire cloth 2; such screen being suspended -f'rom' the top (not shown) of the window frame, indicated generally at 3, by means of. a top crossbar.andsuitable attachment brackets;-

The screen, at its opposite edge portions, abuts the jambs or blindstop's Lot-the. window frame, and at its lower end said screen includes a bottom cross bar 5 which spans betweensaidblind stops.

The bottom cross bar 5' includes a floating ,or vertically adjustable U-sh'ap'ed. bottom strip 5 which bears, at its lower: edge, onthe sill 1. After the screen i is tensioned by forceful downward pressure applied to the bottom cross bar. 5 by the tensioning devices hereinafter described, the bottom strip dis adjusted to provide a full closure for the slight gap which may remain above the sill- 1. i

In the present embodiment there is disclosed a pair of the tensio'ning devices, each such device being indicated" generally at}; Except in the respects as will be hereinpafter particularly described, the tensioning devices 8 are of identi cal constructionand therefore adescription of one will suffice for both I Each tensioningdeviced comprises a flat, vertically elongated attachment plate 9 formed with a pair of slots I0 vertically elongated and spaced in the direction oftheirelongation.

The, attachment plate 9;is.-,adapte d tobe secured flush against the laterally inner face of the window frame jamb or blind stop 4 at the lower end portion of the same, being' adjustably affixed thereto by headed screws 1 I which extend through the Slots no.

Initial installation of the attachment plate 9 is easily and readily accomplished as follows:

The attachment plate 9 has its lower end diagonally cut, as at [2, with the angle of cut substantially the same as the angle of inclination of the top surface of the still 1. To secure the attachment plate 9 it is first disposed fiat against the jamb or blind stop 4 with the diagonally cut lower end l2 resting on the sill 7 (see Fig. at which time the attachment plate 9 is vertical. Then the screws I l are run in at a point immediately adjacent the upper ends of the slots 10, as shown insaid figure. Before the screws H are finally tightened, the attachment plate 9 is slid upwardly to the desired extent. This disposes the attachment plate 9 so that it may subsequently be adjusted up or down for proper screen tensioning by means of the mechanism hereinafter described. See, for example, Fig. 3.

A bracket 63 is formed integral with the attachment plate 9, and projects laterally inwardly therefrom in spaced relation rearwardly of the plane of the section of wire cloth 2.

A cam lever I l is pivoted adjacent but short of its lower end to the bracket l3, as at E5, for swinging between an upstanding released position, as in Fig. 2, to a substantially horizontal, laterally inwardly projecting engaged or beyonddead-center position, as in Fig. 1. The cam lever It includes a finger tab 16 on its outer end to facilitate manipulation of said lever, while the lower end of the lever includes an enlarged, laterally projecting cam 17. The cam H has substantially greater lateral projection from the pivot it than the distance between said pivot and the lower end of the cam lever.

The cam lever l4, together with its laterally projecting cam I7, cooperates with a cam engagin unit, indicated generally at l8, which is affixed to the inner face of the adjacent end portion of the bottom cross bar 5; such unit comprising the following:

A rigid mounting bar or strip 19 is affixed to the inner face of the bottom cross bar 5 adjacent, but short of, the end thereof, such strip extending horizontally lengthwise of said bottom cross bar.

The mounting strip I9 is formed with an integral, upwardly facing catch channel 20 occupying a position directly below the bracket l3; there being a downwardly and outwardly inclined deflector tongue 2| which merges with the inner upper edge of said channel 23.

The attachment plate 9 is adjusted to a position such that when the cam lever 14 is in its upstanding released position, as in Fig. 2, the lower end of said lever-upon pulling of the bottom cross bar 5 inwardly against the blind stops l-tvill engage the deflector tongue 2|, depressing the latter so that it may pass beneath the cam lever and permit said lower end of the latter to readily drop into the catch channel 29. See Fig. 4.

For pulling of the bottom cross bar 5 inwardly to a position against the blind stop l, and for the purpose of causing the lower end of cam lever i l to engage in the catch channel 29, as above, the mounting strip I9 is provided laterally inwardly from the deflector tongue 2| with a finger pull 22 which is curved upwardly to facilitate manual engagement thereof.

After the lower end of the upstanding cam lever 14 is snap-engaged in the catch channel 29, said cam lever is swung laterally inwardly and downwardly to a substantially horizontal position, as in Fig. 1, and at which time the cam 11 turns into the catch channel forcefully depressing the same, together with the bottom cross bar 5, whereby to positively impart tension to the section of wire cloth 2.

With the cam lever M in its lowered or engaged position, the cam I? is so forcefully engaged in the catch channel 29 that the bottom cross bar 5 is locked against unauthorized outward displacement and prevents opening the screen from exteriorly of the window.

In order to prevent the cam lever [4 from swinging downwardly an undesired distance after passing over dead-center, the cam I1 is of such length that it abuts or rests in the finger pull 22 in the manner shown in Fig. 1.

It is understood, of course, that two of the tensioning devices 8 are employed at opposite sides of the window frame, to the end that the screen may be properly tensioned by the application of the downward force to opposite end portions of the cross bar 5.

In order to prevent any lengthwise displacement of the bottom cross bar 5, when the devices 8 are being actuated to screen tensioning position, one of said devices (the left hand one in Fig. l) is provided with a locator finger 23 which is formed integral with, and depends rigid from, the bracket IS; the adjacent deflector tongue 2| being formed with a rearwardly opening, flaring notch 24 which receives said locator finger 23 when the device is in use.

The locator finger 23, as engaged in the flaring notch 24, prevents any motion of the cam engaging unit It, and consequently the bottom cross bar 5, lengthwise of the latter and provides automatic locating thereof.

The described frameless window screen tensioning device is simple, sturdy, practical, and reliable; being easy to install and convenient to use. The device makes possible quick opening or closing of the frameless Window screen I, normally maintaining such screen under positive and adequate tension, and also looking said screen against unauthorized opening from the outside.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

1. A tensioning device for a frameless window screen having a bottom cross bar adapted to abut at the ends against sides of a window frame; comprising a bracket adapted to be secured to one of said sides adjacent the bottom cross bar of the screen, a cam lever pivoted adjacent but short of its lower end on the bracket and swingable laterally between an upstanding position and a generally horizontal but over-dead-center position adjacent and lengthwise of the bottom cross bar, a cam on the lower end of the lever having maximum downward projection when the lever is in said last position, an upwardly facing channel on the bottom cross bar adapted to receive the lever and cam therein, the latter exerting a forceful downward thrust on the channel when the lever is in said over-dead-center position, and a cam deflector tongue inclining rearwardly and downwardly from the outer edge of the channel; said tongue having a rearwardly opening notch therein, and a locator finger depending from the bracket for locating engagement in the notch.

2. A tensioning device for a frameless window screen having a bottom cross bar adapted to abut at the ends against the sides of a window frame; comprising a bracket, means to secure the bracket to one of said sides adjacent the bottom cross ba of the screen, a cam lever pivoted adjacent but short of its lower end on the bracket and swingable in a plane lengthwise of the cross bar between an upstanding position and a position generally lengthwise of the bottom cross bar, the lower end of the lever having a cam thereon having maximum downward projection when the lever is in said last position, an upwardly facing channel on the bottom cross bar adapted to receive the lever and cam therein, the latter exerting a forceful downward thrust on the channel as the lever approaches said channel, and a cam deflector tongue inclining rearwardly and downwardly from the outer edge of the channel, in position to engage the cam upon rearward movement of the cross bar before the channel is directly under the cam.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 876,822 Maxwell Jan. 14, 1908 1,987,080 Schneider Jan. 8, 1935 2,021,068 Kammerer Nov. 12, 1935 2,055,285 Ford Sept. 22, 1936 2,146,251 Dominick Feb. 7, 1939 2,279,190 Wilkinson Apr. 7, 1942 2,449,275 Burns Sept. 14, 1948 

